Copyright is a bundle of rights that includes:
In the United States, copyright exists from the moment of creation, and lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. Copyright protection is automatic as soon as a work exists in fixed form. You can register your copyright with the US Copyright Office but you don't need to do that for your copyright to exist.
Adapted from: Kleinman, Molly. Copyright: Know the Basics. 2009.